Spare Wheel Wire Structure With Asymmetric Hooks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spare wheel fixing devices for vehicles are prone to disengagement during heavy use or theft, and they often produce noise due to vibrations when empty, due to easily removable hooks and poor reassembly.
Innovation Solution
A device with a U-shaped wire structure featuring distinct first and second hooks that require sequential attachment, allowing for elastic deformation to secure the second hook, and an additional wire crossing the U-shaped wire for enhanced stability, with hooks designed for specific rotational movements to prevent unauthorized removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the attachment means are made easily removable for simple mounting, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as the device can come loose during heavy use or theft
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment process is segmented into two distinct sequential steps: first attaching the first hook, then attaching the second hook. This segmentation ensures that the device cannot be improperly assembled and provides inherent security against unauthorized removal while maintaining ease of proper installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire structure incorporates elastic deformability that allows dynamic adjustment during the attachment process. The elastic nature enables the structure to flex during installation and then lock into a secure fixed position, providing both ease of mounting and reliable retention.
2Ease of operation
If the hooks are designed for simple attachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to improper reassembly after wheel change
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second hooks are designed with distinct asymmetric shapes that differ from each other. This asymmetry ensures that the hooks can only be attached in the correct sequential order, preventing improper reassembly. The first hook has a specific geometry that allows initial attachment, while the second hook has a different geometry that can only attach after the first is in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The first hook must be attached as a preliminary action before the second hook can be attached. This preliminary sequencing ensures that the assembly process follows the correct order, making improper reassembly impossible while keeping the overall attachment process simple and intuitive.
3Ease of operation
If the device allows easy attachment and detachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to theft risk
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means are divided into two distinct hooks that must be attached in sequence. This segmentation creates a time-consuming and complex removal process that deterrents theft, while the overall attachment remains straightforward when performed correctly.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric design of the two different hooks ensures that removal requires the same sequential attachment process in reverse, making quick unauthorized removal difficult. The distinct shapes prevent random or forceful detachment while maintaining ease of proper attachment.
4Reliability
If the wire structure is rigid for stability, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in elastic deformation for attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The wire structure's physical parameters are optimized to exhibit elastic deformability within a specific range. The wire is designed with appropriate material properties and geometric dimensions that allow controlled elastic deformation during attachment, then maintain rigid structural stability when loaded with the spare wheel.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire structure transitions dynamically between two states: a flexible state during attachment that allows elastic deformation, and a rigid state during operation that provides structural stability. The elastic nature enables easy attachment while the locked configuration ensures reliability during vehicle operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device securely attaches and detaches easily, preventing theft and reducing noise from vibrations by ensuring the hooks can only be mounted correctly, maintaining the spare wheel's position securely and reducing basket movement when empty.
Implementation Method 1
at least said U-shaped wire of said wire structure is elastically deformable to allow the attachment of said second attachment means
Data Source
Figure 1~2I
AI summary
A device for securing a spare wheel (1) of a motor vehicle, attached to the body of the vehicle, comprising a wire structure for receiving the wheel equipped with at least two attachment means (11, 12) adapted to attach respectively to a receiving element (31, 32) attached to the vehicle, said wire structure comprising at least one wire (10) substantially in the shape of a U, the two ends (1010, 1020) of which are extended respectively by said attachment means, and said attachment means being in the form respectively of a first hook (11) and a second hook (12) of distinct shapes, said device being characterized in that said hooks are configured and dimensioned so that said wire structure can only be mounted by attaching said first hook (11) first and then said second hook (12),and that at least said U-shaped wire (10) of said structure is elastically deformable to allow the attachment of said second hook (12).